Areas of Expertise

• Creative problem solving for engineering and design solutions

• Concept design and development

• Furniture design

• Retail fixture design and development

• Managing design processes for new concepts

• Translating concepts into real life designs that can be manufactured locally and overseas.

• Lead engineer for several global and regional brands

• Consulting global and regional brand designers on developing new fixtures, fixture lines, and new stores

• Engineering using Solidworks, Adobe Suite, Rhino 3D

• Value Engineering

• Estimating Projects and creating time lines / work back schedules

• Managing 100+ article fixture lines

• Managing projects and other engineers and designers

• Proficient in PDM (Product Data Management) and inventory systems

• Working in a collaborative fast paced environment

• Executing fast turn projects for full production

• Installation of projects

• Site Surveys

history:

Since 2005 Austin has worked for design oriented companies, starting at New Market Metal Craft in 2005 as a high-end metal fabricator which cultivated his standard for quality craftsmanship and eventually led him to pursue his education in furniture design. He received his degree from Appalachian State University in Boone,NC where he studied Industrial Design with a concentration in Furniture Design and a minor in Marketing. After completing his undergraduate degree he relocated to Portland, OR in 2013 where he worked at LAIKA Entertainment as an Assistant Machinist on the feature films "The Boxtrolls", and "Kubo and the Two Strings". After LAIKA he worked as an Engineering Supervisor at GUILD. In 2015 he temporarily relocated to Hickory,NC to work as a Product Development Engineer for Baker Furniture (Kohler Interiors) on their Fall 2015 Kara Mann Collection & Spring 2016 Jean-Louis Deniot Collection. From 2016-2021 Austin worked as Senior Design Engineer at HH GLOBAL (FORMERLY EYELEVEL).

Austin is currently Senior Industrial Designer at RTC. “RTC masters the design and detail of retail, helping brands and retailers improve the shopping experience and grow their bottom line.” -RTC

Some clients that Austin has worked with over the years are; NIKE, adidas, apple, Google, SONOS, Rejuvenation, Facebook, The North Face, REI, Hydroflask,  Instagram, Madewell, House of Marley, Pendleton Whisky, Design Week Portland, Columbia Sportswear, Under Armour, Sorel, Jansport, Moncler, and Smartwool to just name a few.

Austin is passionate about design and the materials he uses and shows respect for them with well-designed elegant details such as hidden joinery, while challenging himself with unfamiliar materials and techniques. Austin’s personal work has been exhibited at International Design Shows ICFF (INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE FAIR), AWFS (ASSOCIATION OF WOODWORKING & FURNITURE SUPPLIERS) Las Vegas, IWF (INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKING FAIR) Design Emphasis, High Point Furniture Market, and Solo Exhibition at Nth Degree Gallery